Recent Papers
Volume 16 - 2025 Issue 1
9. Exploration of ascomycetous fungi revealing novel taxa in Southwestern China
Habib et al. (2025)
8. Orders of Ascomycota
Thiyagaraja et al. (2025)
7. Complex evolutionary history of the fungal order Hymenochaetales revealed by analyses of trait evolution and diversification
Wang et al. (2025)
6. Dictyostelids: The second major group of slime molds
Liu et al. (2025)
5. Systematic revision, molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Thelephorales (Basidiomycota)
Song et al. (2025)
4. Multigene phylogeny of seven wood-inhabiting fungal orders in Basidiomycota, and proposal of a new genus and thirteen new species
Yang et al. (2025)
3. Morpho-molecular characterization and pathogenicity of fungi associated with sweet cherry (Prunus avium) trunk diseases in China
Zhang W et al. (2025)
2. Towards an integrative morpho-molecular classification of the Lulworthiomycetidae
Dayarathne MC et al. (2025)
1. New taxa of Xylariales from Karst Ecosystems in Southwestern China
Liu LL et al. (2025)
Volume 15 - 2024 Issue 1
30. Identification and characterization of Albonectria, Fusarium, and Neocosmospora species associated with ornamental plants in Southern China
Zhang YX et al. (2024)
Volume 16 - 2025 - Issue 1
1. New taxa of Xylariales from Karst Ecosystems in Southwestern China
Authors: Liu LL, Ren YL, Habib K, Lu CT, Wu YP, Long SH, Lin Y, Zhang X, Kang YQ, Wijayawardene NN, Wang F, Elgorban AM, Al-Rejaie S, Samarakoon MC, Shen XC, Li QR
Recieved: 12 September 2024, Accepted: 09 January 2025, Published: 31 January 2025
The order Xylariales consists of fungi that are widely distributed and commonly found on decaying wood, fallen branches, and trunks. Despite the taxonomic and morphological challenges in accurately identifying species within this group, interest in Xylariales has increased in recent years, largely due to their ecological significance and and species diversity. Over the course of this study, dead branches of several plant hosts with fungal fruiting bodies were collected from Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi China. The collected specimens were described morphologically, and a multigene phylogeny was constructed based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and β-tubulin (TUB2), including a significant number of representative species of the main lineages in the Xylariales. These analyses led to the introduction of 24 new species: Amphibambusa cerosissimae, Am. subbambusicola, Anthostomella guangxiensis, Arecophila guizhouensis, Ar. subguizhouensis, Biscogniauxia betulae, Cainia daweishanensis, Ca. shilihetanensis, Daldinia guizhouensis, Digitodochium damingshanense, D. xishuangbannense, D. zhangjiajiense, Fasciatispora guizhouensis, Helicogermslita nulliclypeata, Magnostiolata shiwandashanensis, Minuticlypeus yunnanensis, Nemania huangjingensis, Spirodecospora anshunensis, S. daweishanensis, S. jichuanenii, S. jinghongensis, Vamsapriya clypeata, V. damingshanensis, and V. shiwandashanensis. Additionally, we report the occurrence of three new records in China, which includes Amphibambusa bambusicola, Biscogniauxia petrensis, and Fasciatispora cocoes. A new combination Magnostiolata guizhouensis (= Anthostomella guizhouensis) is proposed based on comparative morphological analysis and phylogenetic evidence. Morphologically similar species and phylogenetically close taxa are compared and discussed. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of new taxa are provided.
Keywords: Anthostomella-like fungi – Ascomycetes – bambusicolous fungi – fungal systematics – new species
2. Towards an integrative morpho-molecular classification of the Lulworthiomycetidae
Authors: Dayarathne MC, Jones EBG, Rämä T, Hagestad OC, Abdel-Wahab MA, Bahkali AH, Prematunga C, Azevedo E, Hyde KD, Caeiro MF, Barata M, Sarma VV, Devadatha B, Guo SY, Sakayaroj J and Pang KL
Recieved: 07 June 2024, Accepted: 25 December 2024, Published: 21 February 2025
This study re-evaluates the classification of the Lulworthiomycetidae based on phylogenetic analyses of 18S, 28S and ITS (internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S) regions of rDNA and protein coding genes (TEF1α, RPB1, RPB2, TUB2, MCM7) along with comprehensive morphological comparisons. Based on the current phylogenetic data we consider the genus Spathulospora as a member of the Lulworthiales, Lulworthiomycetidae, and redundancy of the taxon Spathulosporales. This study confirms Lulworthia as polyphyletic with the characteristic filiform, long ascospores with an end chamber, which is found in many genera: Halazoon, Halophilomyces, Lulwoana, Lulwoidea, Matsusporium, Paralulworthia, Paramoleospora, Rostrupiella, and Sammeyersia. These genera can be distinguished by morphology, their asexual morphs and molecular phylogeny. The Lulworthiomycetidae includes 23 genera and 69 species. One new genus (Lindriella) and eight new species (Hydea mangrovei, Lulworthia norwegica, Matsusporium japonica, Moromyces mangrovis, Paralulworthia lignicola, Rostrupiella longispora, Sammeyersia yanbuensis, S. thailandica) are introduced, with four new combinations.
Keywords: 9 new taxa – ecology – marine Ascomycota – life below water – taxonomy
3. Morpho-molecular characterization and pathogenicity of fungi associated with sweet cherry (Prunus avium) trunk diseases in China
Authors: Zhang W, Chen P, Zhou Y, Manawasinghe IS, Ji S, Li X, Al-Otibi F, Hyde KD, Abeywickrama PD, and Yan J
Recieved: 15 July 2024, Accepted: 03 January 2025, Published: 05 March 2025
The production of sweet cherries makes a substantial economic contribution to many nations. However, little is known about the microfungi associated with sweet cherries globally, although fungal pathogens significantly affect tree health and production. Samples exhibiting trunk disease symptoms were collected from six provinces in China and 193 fungal isolates were obtained. Based on morpho-molecular approaches, these ascomycetous taxa were classified into 26 species in ten genera, nine families in Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes. Among them, nine novel host records and two new geographical reports are identified. Pathogenicity assays revealed Colletotrichum godetiae, Co. fioriniae, Fusarium annulatum, F. verticillioides, F. compactum, F. citri, Fusarium sp., Neocosmospora solani and Ne. metavorans were causing symptoms on one-year old detached sweet cherry shoots. Fusarium planum, F. sulawesiense and F. lateritium did not develop any symptoms during the pathogenicity assay. Botryosphaeria dothidea, Cladosporium anthropophilum, Cl. cladosporioides, Cl. perangustum, Cl. ramotenellum, Cl. sphaerospermum, Cl. tenuissimum, Nothophoma pruni, No. quercina, Alternaria alternata, Monilinia fructicola, Cytospora leucostoma, Clonostachys farinose, Fusarium planum, F. sulawesiense and F. lateritium species were associated with trunk disease symptoms. In addition, we provide updated backbone trees for Alternaria, Botryosphaeria, Cladosporium, Clonostachys, Colletotrichum, Cytospora, Fusarium, Monilinia, Neocosmospora and Nothophoma. These findings revealed the high diversity of microfungi associated with cherry trunk diseases and this study is the first comprehensive study on the pathogenic micro-fungi associated with sweet cherry trunk diseases in China. Future studies are required to understand the pathogenicity mechanisms and disease epidemiology of isolated species and their impact on cherry production in China.
Keywords: Fungal taxonomy – Fusarium oxysporum species complex – Koch’s postulates – Monilinia – Trunk diseases
4. Multigene phylogeny of seven wood-inhabiting fungal orders in Basidiomycota, and proposal of a new genus and thirteen new species
Authors: Yang Y, Xu Y, Wang L, Jiang QQ, Su JQ, Li R, Zhou HM and Zhao CL
Recieved: 12 July 2024, Accepted: 08 February 2025, Published: 19 March 2025
The wood-inhabiting fungal orders play a central role in understanding the diversity in Basidiomycota, and their significance in the recycling of organic matter and nutrient cycling. Typically they are categorized as the white-rot and brown-rot fungi. In the present study, wood-inhabiting fungi were collected from various locations in Yunnan Province, China. These collections were further identified using comprehensive analysis of combined morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses encompassed the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences (mtSSU), translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1-α), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1), and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2). Based on these, this study presents a new genus, Gracilihypha, and thirteen new species from seven orders and eight families as Coniophoropsis sinensis, Gloeopeniophorella bambusicola, Gloiothele yunnanensis, Gracilihypha abeliae, Hyphoderma asianum, H. qujingense, Hyphodontia daweishanensis, Kneiffiella qujingensis, Merismodes wumengshanensis, M. yunnanensis, Peniophora fissurata, Punctulariopsis asiana, and Sertulicium yunnanense. Furthermore, this multi-locus approach allowed for a robust assessment of the evolutionary relationships within the fungal community. To enhance accessibility and understanding, herein we include illustrated descriptions of the newly proposed taxa and comprehensive notes on the genera. Our study will provide new insight into the diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi while contributing new species to basidiomycete.
Keywords: Agaricomycetes, basidiomata morphogenesis, ecology, fungal classification, multiple genes, new taxa
5. Systematic revision, molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Thelephorales (Basidiomycota)
Authors: Song CG, Xu TM, Xu YH, Wang D, Zeng L, Fan XP, Sun YF, Cui BK
Recieved: 20 July 2024, Accepted: 18 February 2025, Published: 19 March 2025
Thelephorales is an important order of macro-fungi belonging to Basidiomycota. Species in this order play an essential role in the biogeochemical cycle in forest ecosystems and bring an essential economic value in developing and utilizing edible and medicinal fungal resources. In this study, the classification system of Thelephorales was revised based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The DNA sequences of multiple loci, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2) were used to construct phylogenetic relationships and infer the divergence time of Thelephorales. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that six clades at the family level were obtained in Thelephorales with high supports. The ancestor of Thelephorales split at about 269.07 Mya, and the mean stem ages of the families of Thelephorales were centralized differentiation in 145.95– 269.07 Mya. Combined with morphological studies, Thelephorales were confirmed to comprise six families, including four new families: Lenzitopsidaceae, Polyozellaceae, Sarcodonaceae, Tomentellopsidaceae, and two existing families: Bankeraceae and Thelephoraceae. There are twelve identified genera viz. Amaurodon, Boletopsis, Corneroporus, Hydnellum, Lenzitopsis, Neosarcodon, Odontia, Sarcodon, Phellodon, Polyozellus, Thelephora, and Tomentellopsis. Furthermore, 20 new species were described, and 4 new combinations were proposed. Illustrated descriptions and scanning electron micrographs of the basidiospores of the new species were provided. Keys to Thelephorales and the accepted families, and the notes of the accepted genera in Thelephorales were also provided
Keywords: ectomycorrhizal fungi – Thelephorales – multi-gene phylogeny – taxonomy – evolution
6. Dictyostelids: The second major group of slime molds
Authors: Liu P, Zhang ZJ, Ge JH, Zou Y, Li Z, Li S, Li Y, and Stephenson SL
Recieved: 19 December 2024, Accepted: 28 March 2025, Published: 25 April 2025
The dictyostelids (also called cellular slime molds or social amoebae) are among the more abundant and widespread groups of microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this fact, they are totally unknown to most people, who sometimes confuse the dictyostelids with myxomycetes (or plasmodial slime molds). The first dictyostelid (Dictyostelium mucoroides) was described by the German Oskar Brefeld in 1869. More than 180 species are now known, and these organisms have been recorded from the high arctic to the subantarctic. The primary microhabitat for dictyostelids is the soil/humus layer on a forest floor, but they also occur in a number of other microhabitats. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of dictyostelids, including their occurrence, distribution, relationships with other organisms, methods used for isolation, history of their study, and classification. The assemblages of species associated with each major type of ecosystem (tropical forest, temperate forest, boreal forest, tundra, grassland, savanna, and desert) are described. In addition, the compounds produced by dictyostelids and their possible applications are discussed.
Keywords: Biogeography – classification – ecology – history – methods of study – slime molds
7. Complex evolutionary history of the fungal order Hymenochaetales revealed by analyses of trait evolution and diversification
Authors: Wang XW, Varga T, Li QS, Nagy LG and Zhou LW
Recieved: 24 October 2024, Accepted: 02 April 2025, Published: 25 April 2025
The tempo and mode of speciation and extinction of species shape the extant diversity of organisms and hold a footprint of past evolutionary events and adaptive periods. However, in contrast to most animals and plants, fungal diversification patterns are poorly known. Here, using a novel, nearly comprehensive phylogeny, we analyze speciation and extinction patterns of the order Hymenochaetales (Agaricomycetes), which is a speciose group of important wood-decaying fungi and tree pathogens. We show that the Hymenochaetales had a convoluted and eventful evolutionary history, shaped by an early adaptive period, followed by a general rate slowdown interrupted by local rapid radiations in the Cretaceous. We inferred that the ancestor of the order has undergone rapid phenotypic diversification into a range of fruiting body morphologies and lifestyles, of which crust-like morphologies and ‘pileate-sessile’ forms typical of bracket-fungi became dominant among extant taxa. Diversification rate showed significant correlations with paleotemperature, morphological and ecological traits; however, teasing apart the contributions of individual clades revealed that these were mostly driven by the Mid-late Cretaceous rapid radiation of the genus Phylloporia, a taxonomically diverse group of plant parasites. Together, this study unraveled a complex evolutionary history of the Hymenochaetales and uncovered novel patterns of phenotype evolution and diversification in mushroom-forming fungi.
Keywords: Basidiomycota – diversification rate – adaptive radiation – global warming – the expansion of angiosperms
8. Orders of Ascomycota
Authors: Thiyagaraja V, Hyde KD, Piepenbring M, Davydov EA, Dai DQ, Abdollahzadeh J, Bundhun D, Chethana KWT, Crous PW, Gajanayake AJ, Gomdola D, Haelewaters D, Johnston PR, Mardones M, Perera RH, Senanayake IC, Tibpromma S, Yasanthika WAE, Abbasi MW, Abdel-Wahab MA, Absalan S, Acharya K, Afshari N, Aouali S, Aptroot A, Apurillo CCS, Armand A, Avasthi S, Bao DF, Bhat DJ, Blondelle A, Boonmee S, Boonyuen N, Braun U, Čadež N, Calabon MS, Cazabonne J, Chakraborty N, Cheewangkoon R, Chen K-H, Coleine C, Darmostuk V, Daroodi Z, Dasgupta D, de Groot MD, De Hoog S, Deng W, Dissanayake AJ, Dissanayake LS, Doilom M, Dong W, Dong W, Ertz D, Fortuna JL, Gautam AK, Gorczak M, Groenewald M, Groenewald JZ, Gunarathne A, Han Y, Hongsanan S, Hou CL, Htet YM, Htet ZH, Huang Q, Huang SK, Huanraluek N, Jayalal RGU, Jayasiri SC, Jayawardena RS, Jiang SH, Jones EBG, Karimi O, Karunarathna SC, Khuna S, Kossmann T, Kularathnage ND, Lestari AS, Li CJY, Li JF, Lin CG, Liu JK, Liu X, Liu Y, Lu L, Lu YZ, Luo ZL, Ma J, Madagammana AS, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Marasinghe DS, Martzoukou E, Marin-Felix Y, Miller AN, Monkai J, Noorabadi MT, Norphanphoun C, Olariaga I, Opiña LAD, Pang KL, Peng X, Péter G, Phillips AJL, Pineda MM, Prieto M, Quan Y, Quandt A, Rajeshkumar KC, Rambold G, Raymundo T, Raza M, Réblová M, Samaradiwakara NP, Sarma VV, Schultz M, Seifollahi E, Selbmann L, Su H, Sun YR, Tehler A, Tennakoon DS, Thambugala KM, Tian WH, Tsurykau A, Valenzuela R, Verma RK, Wang J, Wang WP, Wang XY, Wang Y, Wang Z, Wei DP, Wen T, Wijayawardene NN, Wimalasena MK, Worthy FR, Wu HX, Xu L, Yakovchenko LS, Yu FM, Zeng XY, Zhang SN, Zhang ZY, Zhao Q1, Wanasinghe DN
Recieved: 05 September 2024, Accepted: 09 April 2025, Published: 18 May 2025
Ascomycota, the most speciose phylum of fungi, is a complex entity, comprising three diverse subphyla: Pezizomycotina, Saccharomycotina, and Taphrinomycotina. The largest and most diverse subphylum, Pezizomycotina, is a rich tapestry of 16 classes and 171 orders. Saccharomycotina, the second largest subphylum, is a diverse collection of seven classes and 12 orders, while Taphrinomycotina, the smallest, is a unique assembly of six classes and six orders. Over the past decade, numerous taxonomic studies have focused on the generic, family, and class classifications of Ascomycota. These efforts, well-documented across various databases, are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the classification. However, the study of taxonomy at the ordinal level, a crucial tier in the taxonomic hierarchy, has been largely overlooked. In a global collaboration with mycologists and lichenologists, this study presents the first comprehensive information on the orders within Pezizomycotina and Taphrinomycotina. The recent taxonomic classification of Saccharomycotina has led to the exclusion of this subphylum from the present study, as an immediate revision is not necessary. Each order is thoroughly discussed, highlighting its historical significance, current status, key identification characteristics, evolutionary relationships, ecological and economic roles, future recommendations, and updated family-level classification. Teaching diagrams for the life cycles of several orders, viz. Asterinales, Helotiales, Hypocreales, Laboulbeniales, Meliolales, Mycosphaerellales, Ophiostomatales, Pezizales, Pleosporales, Phyllachorales, Rhytismatales, Sordariales, Venturiales, Xylariales (Pezizomycotina) and Pneumocystidales, Schizosaccharomycetales and Taphrinales (Taphrinomycotina) are provided. Each diagram is explained with a representative genus/genera of their sexual and asexual cycles of each order. Within Pezizomycotina, Dothideomycetes contains the highest number of orders, with 57, followed by Sordariomycetes (52 orders), Lecanoromycetes (21 orders), Eurotiomycetes and Leotiomycetes (12 orders each), Laboulbeniomycetes (3 orders), and Arthoniomycetes and Xylonomycetes (2 orders each). Candelariomycetes, Coniocybomycetes, Geoglossomycetes, Lichinomycetes, Orbiliomycetes, Pezizomycetes, Sareomycetes, and Xylobotryomycetes each contain a single order, while Thelocarpales and Vezdaeales are treated as incertae sedis within Pezizomycotina. Notably, the classes Candelariomycetes, Coniocybomycetes, Geoglossomycetes, Sareomycetes, and Xylonomycetes, all recently grouped under Lichinomycetes, are treated as separate classes based on phylogenetic analysis and current literature. Within Lecanoromycetes, the synonymization of Sporastatiales with Rhizocarpales and Sarrameanales with Schaereriales is not supported in the phylogenetic analysis. These orders are retained separately, and the justifications are provided under each section as well as in the discussion. Within Leotiomycetes, the order Medeolariales, which was once considered part of Helotiales, is treated as a distinct order based on phylogenetic evidence. The classification of Medeolariales may change as more data becomes available from different gene regions. Lahmiales (Leotiomycetes) is not included in the phylogenetic analysis due to a lack of molecular data. Sareomycetes and Xylonomycetes are treated as separate classes. Spathulospora mixed with Lulworthiales and the inclusion of Spathulosporales within Lulworthiomycetidae is supported and extant molecular sampling is important to resolve the phylogenetic boundaries of members of this subclass. The majority of the classes of Pezizomycotina and Taphrinomycotina formed monophyletic clades in the phylogenetic analysis conducted based on SSU, LSU, 5.8S, TEF and RPB2 sequence data. However, Arthoniomycetes nested with the basal lineage of Dothideomycetes and formed a monophyletic clade also known as the superclass, Dothideomyceta. In Taphrinomycotina, a single order is accepted within each class.
Keywords: Classification – Morphology – Pezizomycotina – Phylogeny – Taphrinomycotina – taxonomy
9. Exploration of ascomycetous fungi revealing novel taxa in Southwestern China
Authors: Habib K, WH Li, YL Ren, LL Liu, CT Lu, QF Zhang, ZQ Yao, XY Luo, X Zhou, WY Zeng, YQ Kang, XC Shen, Wijayawardene NN, Elgorban AM, Al-Rejaie S, QR Li
Recieved: 15 January 2025, Accepted: 21 April 2025, Published: 23 May 2025
This study explores the fungal diversity of Southwestern China, focusing on ascomycetous fungi associated with decaying plant materials. Through morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, we identified 31 new species and a new genus across six fungal orders, Amphisphaeriales, Chaetosphaeriales, Dyfrolomycetales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, and Xylariales. The newly described species include Allodiatrype flavigelida, Anteaglonium stromatolineum, Anthostomatopsis chinensis, An. suiyangensis, Apiospora anshunensis, Arecophila chinensis, Ar. amphibambusina, Astrocystis liuzhouensis, Astrosphaeriella gaofengensis, As. roseobrunnea, Coniolariella cuneiapicalis, Didymobotryum bambusae, Digitodochium anshunense, Fissuroma chinense, Immotthia chinensis, Lophiostoma bijiense, L. yunnanense, Magnostiolata tubulariapicalis, Ma. subtubularia, Melomastia chinensis, Memnoniella chrysanthemi, Minuticlypeus biconcavus, Nemania jiuwanshanensis, Neolinocarpon huaxiense, Nigropunctata chinensis, Ni. liuzhouensis, Pallidoperidium chinense, Peroneutypa heveae, Rosellinia nemaniae, R. putrida and Vamsapriya kailiensis. Additionally, we propose six new combinations based on comparative morphological and phylogenetic analyses, Amphigermslita subyunnanensis, Am. yunnanensis, Anthostomatopsis guizhouensis, Minuticlypeus rhaphidophylli, M. xiaohensis and Pallidoperidium smilacis. Furthermore, we report three taxa, Astrosphaeriella bambusae, Didymobotryum rigidum, and Endocalyx melanoxanthus as new geographical records in China. Previous studies and our phylogenetic analyses revealed that the genera Muscodor, Emarcea, and Spiririma form a monophyletic clade distinct from representatives of Xylariaceae, for which we propose the new family Muscodoraceae fam. nov. These findings highlight the fungal diversity of this ecologically rich region, with its varied climates and habitats ranging from subtropical forests to alpine ecosystems. The species described in this study represent only a small fraction of mycoflora in the region, emphasizing the need for further comprehensive surveys via polyphasic approaches to uncover the full extent of the mycoflora in this region.
Keywords: bambusicolous fungi – fungal diversity – novel taxa – taxonomy – Xylariales
